A young girl was resuscitated at the scene of a serious road traffic collision in Co Clare yesterday before being flown to hospital in a critical condition.

The four-year-old was injured in a two-vehicle crash on the N85 Ennis to Ennistymon road at around 9am. The two cars collided at Ballyea South and finished up in a ditch.

Three ambulances and a rapid response paramedic unit were despatched along with two units of the fire brigade from Ennistymon.

Emergency crews were told they were responding to a collision where a child was reported to be 'unresponsive'.

A local doctor who came upon the scene stopped to help the injured, while it is understood that a nurse, who was also passing at the time, helped those who were hurt.

After arriving at the scene, paramedics assessed the casualties and requested support from the Emergency Aeromedical Service air ambulance.

The Athlone-based helicopter, Air Corps 112, airlifted the child to University Hospital Limerick for treatment while the drivers of the cars, both men, were transported to hospital by road with one said to be in a serious condition.